Can a nonprofit board vote by email in New Mexico?
Only by a consent in writing signed by all of the directors. What New Mexico's Nonprofit Corporation Act, section 53-8-97, says.
Only by a consent in writing signed by all of the directors. New Mexico's statute doesn't say whether an emailed reply counts as signed.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your bylaws, and ask counsel whether a particular vote counts for your board.
What New Mexico law says
NMSA section 53-8-97 says any action that could be taken at a meeting of the directors "may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by" all of the directors.
The consent "shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote."
What that means for an email vote
- All directors have to sign.
- The consent has to set out the action taken.
- Keep the signed consent with the minutes.
- Ask counsel whether an emailed yes counts as a signed consent for your board, or have each director sign a PDF.
What your bylaws can change
Read your articles and bylaws for any rule on written consent. They may add requirements the statute doesn't have.
Running the vote
Send one motion, in full, to every director. Set a closing time, and keep every reply with the minutes. Our guide to email votes has the steps, and the guide to unanimous written consent has a sample you can copy.
How Karma Compass handles this
Karma Compass won't draft a vote until someone on your board records what your bylaws say about voting outside a meeting, with the passage cited. Each director then votes from a link in their own email, and every vote is saved with who cast it and when. Voting is part of the Free plan.
See how board votes by email work in Karma Compass
Source
- NMSA section 53-8-97: action by directors without a meeting on a consent in writing signed by all of them. We read FindLaw's copy of the statute on 12 November 2026.
Questions this post answers
Can a nonprofit board vote by email in New Mexico?
Only by a consent in writing signed by all of the directors. Section 53-8-97 doesn't say whether an email counts as signed.
Does an email vote have to be unanimous in New Mexico?
Yes. The consent has to be signed by all of the directors.
What effect does a New Mexico written consent have?
The same force and effect as a unanimous vote.
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